ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the development process in New Jersey, with North Carolina used for comparison. It describes the stylized process from the common elements of subdivision and other plan review procedures in municipalities in both states. The time spent reviewing is necessary to accomplish substantive regulatory objectives and to accord all stakeholders due process. When the approval process takes more than what should be needed to accomplish those objectives, the delay is “unnecessary.” The alternative typically is invoked when land uses are deemed to have special characteristics. As in all states, New Jersey and North Carolina land use and development are subject to federal regulations. Just as the federal government sometimes sets standards but leaves enforcement to the states, New Jersey delegates some programs to localities. The differences may explain some of the variations in procedural delays that are observed between New Jersey and North Carolina.
